Case Study Fast, Secure Authentication for Messaging Platforms
How we built a secure identity proofing and multi-factor authentication engine to protect critical communication channels.
The Client
Securing identity and data access for emergency responder systems.
The client is a leading critical messaging provider operating in the United States. They serve over 1,400 healthcare, hospital, and first responder organizations, delivering over five million secure messages daily. Their application suite is used by doctors, nurses, paramedics, and fire dispatchers to communicate during emergency situations, making data security and system availability critical to their operations.
In B2B critical communications, validating the identity of every user is a major challenge. Users frequently access systems from personal mobile phones, shared hospital tablets, and desktop consoles. If an unauthorized user gains access to a terminal, they could access sensitive patient health records or intercept emergency dispatch updates, violating HIPAA guidelines and compromising public safety.
To secure their platform, the client required a robust, automated identity proofing and multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution. They needed an application that would verify user identities, manage credentials, and integrate with the existing enterprise security systems used by their hospital and emergency services clients.
The Challenge
The security risks of disconnected user databases.
Before the project, the client lacked a centralized, secure identity verification system. User authentication was managed across local customer databases, which were often out of date. Store supervisors had to manually verify the identity of new employees and configure their access permissions, a process that was slow and prone to errors.
As online identity theft and database hacking threats rose, this manual setup became a significant risk. The client needed to upgrade their access controls, implement multi-factor authentication, and provide administrators with a centralized dashboard to manage security settings and audit user access.
System lacked a secure, automated identity proofing system.
Disconnected user databases created security risks and delayed registrations.
Manual credential management by administrators caused overhead.
Compliance with global accessibility and data security standards was required.
What our audit found
Exposing authentication gaps and manual overhead.
We conducted a review of the client's login flows, user database schemas, and integration endpoints. The diagnostic revealed that the lack of standard integration protocols (such as SAML or OAuth) was the primary cause of their administrative overhead. When onboarding new hospital systems, the client's IT team had to write custom database scripts to sync user credentials.
Furthermore, because there was no multi-factor authentication option, user profiles were vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks. The manual verification process delayed user onboarding, meaning doctors and paramedics sometimes had to wait days before receiving their system login credentials.
Lack of standard integration protocols delayed hospital onboarding.
Single-factor logins left user accounts vulnerable to security threats.
Manual verification delayed credential provisioning for emergency staff.
Testing of authentication systems was manual and slowed down release cycles.
The Solution
How we turned it around.
Native Mobile Applications for Credential Management
We built native mobile credential applications for iOS and Android using Objective-C and Android Java. These applications act as the user's secure digital ID, generating one-time passcodes and handling biometric authentication. The mobile clients encrypt all credential data using hardware-backed keystores on the device, ensuring user profiles remain secure even if a phone is lost.
What we shipped
- Developed native iOS and Android credential management clients.
- Implemented biometric authentication (Face ID / Touch ID / Fingerprint).
- Utilized device keystores to encrypt all local credential files.
- Programmed push notifications to handle real-time MFA login approvals.
Centralized Angular Admin Dashboard
To give corporate clients control over their security configurations, we built a centralized admin dashboard using Angular, connected to a Java Spring Boot backend. This portal allows hospital IT managers to configure authentication settings, monitor login attempts, and audit user permissions. We structured the database layer using MS SQL to process high volumes of simultaneous login queries.
What we shipped
- Rebuilt the administrative console using a responsive Angular frontend.
- Engineered a Java Spring Boot backend to handle authentication routing.
- Designed real-time monitoring tools to display active login activity.
- Built audit logging databases to track configuration changes.
Security Standards Integration and Automated QA
To simplify onboarding, we integrated enterprise authentication standards, including LDAP, SAML 2.0, and OAuth 2.0. This allows the messaging platform to integrate with the active directory systems of their client organizations. To validate these security protocols, we built an automated QA pipeline using Protractor and Selenium, running automated tests on all authentication pathways before release.
What we shipped
- Integrated SAML 2.0 and LDAP for single sign-on (SSO) compatibility.
- Implemented OAuth 2.0 to handle secure third-party API authorizations.
- Programmed automated QA tests using Selenium to validate login flows.
- Met global accessibility standards to ensure ease of use for all staff.
The Numbers
Outcomes we can talk about.
The launch of the centralized identity proofing and authentication platform resolved the client's security risks. By integrating standard protocols (SAML, LDAP, OAuth), the B2B messaging platform connects to hospital active directories, eliminating manual credential updates. IT administrators can now manage user accounts across regions from a single dashboard.
The mobile credential applications provide emergency responders with a fast, secure login process. Biometric logins and push-notification approvals removed the need for manual passcode entry, ensuring fast system access during emergency dispatches. The automated QA pipeline ensures that security updates are thoroughly tested, reducing regression bugs and protecting the platform against security threats.
Note on Metrics: Due to the client's strict data privacy policies and federal compliance standards, quantitative security performance and fraud prevention metrics were restricted from public release. The success of the project was measured qualitatively by the deployment of the mobile credential apps, the reduction of customer onboarding times, and compliance audits.
What We Built
What's Next
Expanding to passwordless authentication and risk-based access.
Following the success of the MFA platform, the client plans to transition to passwordless authentication using FIDO2 standards. This will allow users to log in to desktop terminals by tapping their mobile phone, eliminating the need for usernames and passwords.
Additionally, the client plans to deploy risk-based access rules. By analyzing login metadata (such as device location and time), the system will dynamically prompt users for verification if anomalous activity is detected, protecting the network against compromised accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
About This Project
The questions teams usually ask when they want to run a similar engagement.
Identity proofing is the process of verifying that a user is who they claim to be before granting access permissions. In this project, we automated this process by connecting the client's CRM to secure identity verification engines.
The Real Numbers
Need real numbers? Let's talk.
We kept the names off the page. The story is real, the outcomes are real, and we're always happy to walk a serious team through the rest of it.
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